MSP Rising Star

Venture into Narnia with Westfield kids

PWJW_Indy Reviews, Stage , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

By John Lyle Belden

During World War II, many English children were sent to friends’ or relatives’ homes in the countryside, away from cities where German bombs and rockets fell.

You can’t get much further away than Narnia.

This is the situation of the four siblings in “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” a stage adaptation by Joseph Robinette, based on the beloved story by C.S. Lewis (a novel in his Chronicles of Narnia series). It is presented in Westfield as the summer youth production of Main Street Productions through this weekend.

In the country house where the Pevensie children are staying, the youngest, Lucy (Morgan Rusbasan) finds the Wardrobe in the Spare Room, and discovers in it a doorway to a vast, cold forest. There she encounters a faun, Tumnus (Makenzie Walter), who makes the fateful decision to warn her of the White Witch who keeps Narnia in winter – but without Christmas – and to send her to the lamp post that leads back to the Wardrobe portal. When easily-bored brother Edmund (Camren Davis) follows Lucy into the fantasy wood, he meets the Witch (Maile Alpizar) who says she’s the Queen of Narnia and promises him all the Turkish delight he can eat if Edmund brings his siblings to her.

When all four Pevensies cross over, including Peter (Harrison Gabinski Coon) and Susan (Annalisa Schuth), they learn from Mr. and Mrs. Beaver (Chaya Elicker and Nora Gapinski Coon) about the Witch’s treachery, the return of the true king Aslan the lion (Kaelyn Harvey), and a prophecy that these human children (“Sons of Adam, daughters of Eve”) are meant to fulfil. Meanwhile, the Witch dispatches the leader of her secret police, the wolf Fenris Ulf (Layne Thompson) to find the children and slay any being that stands in his way.

This cast of more than two dozen eager children and teens also includes Naomi Mattysse as the mysterious White Stag, Zack Harvey as a Centaur, Cersei Davis as a Unicorn, and John Engle as Father Christmas, who brings the perfect gifts for the Pevensies’ quest.

Directed by Brandi Davis, the fantasy characters are mainly distinguished by head makeup, not encumbered by furs or fake hooves. Full-body costuming is largely reserved for the lead arch-rivals, Alpizar’s Witch in a stunning white gown and Harvey’s Aslan in a dignified lion-hued suit.

Actors often get a kick out of playing the villain, and Alpizar and Thompson take to their roles with gusto. When the Witch/Queen is upset, you’ll know. At the other end of the scale, Harvey gives the Lion all the gravitas she can muster – appropriate as Lewis, a devout Christian, wrote Aslan as a sort of avatar of Jesus Christ.

You have four more chances to visit this vision of Narnia, 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday (July 25-28) at Basile Westfield Playhouse, 220 N. Union St. (leave early to get around downtown construction). Get tickets at westfieldplayhouse.org.

‘Somewhat True,’ definitely entertaining

PWJW_Indy Reviews, Stage , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

By John Lyle Belden

“The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood,” by Mary Lynn Dobson, is a perfect play for teen and tween actors, and Main Street Productions does it proud on their Westfield stage.

Historians can tie themselves in knots trying to figure out who the “real” English folk hero was, but that absolutely does not matter here. From the title onward, we are treated to something like the atmosphere of a Muppet film, or Monty Python, or a sort of G-rated “Deadpool.” Essentially, they are in a story, and know it, are just fine with it, and as things progress, they take advantage of it.

I’m tempted to call this “the Yeater brothers strike again.” It is upon Owen that is cast the enormous responsibility – and ego – of being Robin, “a great character of literature,” he reminds us. To strike the karmic balance, slightly younger bro Quinn is the conniving Sheriff of Nottingham. (Big brother Mason is stage manager, their little brother was in the audience.)

For true “Boo, Hiss” evil (we are encouraged to shout along), there is Harrison Coon as dastardly Prince John, sharply performing like a demented Benedict Cumberbatch. On the noble side of the coin, there is our Lady Marian, Rachel Bush, fortunately talented enough to avoid being upstaged by her scream queen Lady in Waiting, Ella Crites.

Robin manages a band of Merry Men (of any gender), manically played by Maile Alpizar, Nora Gapinski Coon, Sammy Geis, Neil Hackman, Isabella Hasseld, Kaavya Jethava, Owen Lockert, Anna Pfeiffer, and scene-stealing Zach Harvey as (actually little) Little John – all armed with spoons (I’m guessing an homage to the Costner film?). They are co-led by Sister Tuck, Kaelyn Harvey, armed (naturally) with a ruler.

Hackman and Pfeiffer also play guards at Prince John’s Court, which is attended by a trio of highly entertaining Fawning Ladies: Chaya Flicker, Tatum Meadors and Sophia Musick.

As for the story, you likely already know it – except maybe the part about bowling, and the essential role of the Town’s Guy (Teddy Epstein), our narrator and the characters’ link to the all-important Miss Technical Director (Megan Mramor, according to the Crew list).

Also, you can tell it’s Medieval England because the footwear is all by Sir Chuck Taylor (those are the rules, I guess).

Directed by Nikki Lynch and Becca Bartley, saying this is delightful seems to sell this show short, but it truly is a hilarious delight to see kids taking history and “great literature” on such a fun ride, complete with cheeky “you get that?” after-school special moments.

As I post this, there is a matinee today (July 30), as well as performances Aug. 3-6 at the Basile Westfield Playhouse, 220 N. Union St., downtown Westfield. For info and tickets, see westfieldplayhouse.org.  

Warning: Might actually be a play

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By John Lyle Belden

They tried to warn us.

Some years ago, New Hampshire teacher Alan Haehnel wrote “15 Reasons Not to Be in a Play” to give our youth something of substance beyond “I don’t wanna!” when asked if they would like to be in a school play. That wasn’t enough, as some kids apparently enjoy being on stage, so Haehnel also wrote “18 More Reasons Not to Be in a Play.” And kids have used it – as a play.

Now the complete edition, Haehnel’s “30 Reasons Not to Be in a Play,” appears in Playscripts archives, and Main Street Productions’ “Rising Star” director Tanya Haas has taken the bait. In a two-hour diversion, which its participants insist is not a play, 19 talented local kids – second grade to senior – present this important (and hilarious) PSA at the Basile Westfield Playhouse.

The brave children recruited to this cause are Harrison Gapinski Coon, Ella Crites, Clayton Crocker, Livy Crocker, Blake Fortier, Dylan Fortier, Sammy Geis, Mia Gordon, Neil Hackman, Isabella Hasseld, Owen Hilger, Anastasia Hobbs, Tatyana Hobbs, Liv Keslin, Annalisa Schuth, Amaya Smith, Mason Yeater, Owen Yeater, and Quinn Yeater. I list them all because they all had lines and moments in the spotlight, and due to repeated family names, I’ll refer to them by their first names from here on.

Neil opens with the most simple reason — just two words — but as adults watching need more context, the list continues. Maybe it’s that certain teacher (Ella) or overbearing relative (Amaya). Mia reveals it could be her cell phone, or an allergy, or her mom (Isabella)’s camera, maybe just someone (Quinn) jumping the “cue.” Perhaps Liv would rather be an auctioneer? Maybe it’s growing up with Sammy, who still wants to play a fairy. Could it be Owen’s dreamy eyes? Or bumping into equally handsome Mason at the cast party? Do we have to bring Neil out again? Amaya has other simple, profound reasons, which she may have to explain.

The most entertaining – if this were indeed a “play” – is the dramatization of The Legend of Mort! (Mort… Mort… Mort…). The story is told by Isabella, with unnecessary color commentary by Owen (Ella, Mia and Amaya providing discipline); Mason as the famous Director Frankenburg; Harrison as the appropriately creepy Gordon; Sammy, Anastasia, and Tatyana as enthralled Actors; Blake, Dylan, and Clayton as the chorus of Echoes (echoes… echoes… echoes…); and Owen as ill-fated Mort, demonstrating that being a slacker and method-acting don’t mix.

Finally, if other reasons don’t suffice, the entire cast comes out, led by Harrison, to explain how a play could end civilization as we know it!

We’re convinced: One of the best reasons to go to a play is “30 Reasons Not to Be in a Play.” Performances are this weekend and Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 7, at 220 N. Union St., Westfield. Get info and tickets at WestfieldPlayhouse.org.